--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that there are people who believe…" description: "\"I know that there are people who believe that if they get to the stage where life is absolutely intolerable because of pain and indignity... they would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg" --- # I know that there are people who believe that if they get… ![“I know that there are people who believe that if they get to the stage where life is absolutely intolerable because of pain and indignity... they would like to end their life before nature intended, and we think they should have the choice to do so.” quote by Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg) > “I know that there are people who believe that if they get to the stage where life is absolutely intolerable because of pain and indignity... they would like to end their life before nature intended, and we think they should have the choice to do so.” [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates argue that individuals facing unbearable suffering should have the right to end their lives, emphasizing personal autonomy over natural limits. **In simple terms:** People in extreme pain should choose death if they wish. Key Takeaway Respect personal choice in end‑of‑life decisions. Themes autonomy ethics human dignity pain management Mood empathetic serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - palliative care decisions - legal policy - family discussions Key Concepts right to die suffering medical ethics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure voluntary choice? - How do cultural views shape this debate? A Different Perspective Societal values may conflict with individual wishes, creating legal and moral dilemmas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Indignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indignity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [We now undertake that we cannot rest while millions of our people suffer the pain and indignity of poverty in all its forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-now-undertake-that-we-cannot-rest-while-millions-of-our-people/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Later on Lady Maccon was to describe that particular day as the worst of her life. She had neither the soul nor the romanticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/later-on-lady-maccon-was-to-describe-that-particular-day-as-the-worst/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Thresholds of pain, indignity and incapacity are entirely personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/thresholds-of-pain-indignity-and-incapacity-are-entirely-personal/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [The most intolerable pain is produced by prolonging the keenest pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-most-intolerable-pain-is-produced-by-prolonging-the-keenest/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [It's not life in the present moment that is intolerable; the pain we are avoiding has already happened. We are living in reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/it-s-not-life-in-the-present-moment-that-is-intolerable-the-pain-we/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I fully respect people whose personal religious or moral code has God giving, and taking, life. But there are moral and responsible people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-fully-respect-people-whose-personal-religious-or-moral-code-has-god/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [A judge found it constitutionally intolerable that Louisiana should interject 'religious beliefs and moral judgments into teaching.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murchison/a-judge-found-it-constitutionally-intolerable-that-louisiana-should/) [William Murchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murchison/) > [Existence would be intolerable if we were never to dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/existence-would-be-intolerable-if-we-were-never-to-dream/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The gods' service is tolerable, man's intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-gods-service-is-tolerable-man-s-intolerable/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Without the Blessed Sacrament a position like mine would be intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/father-damien/without-the-blessed-sacrament-a-position-like-mine-would-be/) [Father Damien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/father-damien/) > [I remain in intolerable non-knowledge, which has no other way out than ecstasy itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bataille/i-remain-in-intolerable-non-knowledge-which-has-no-other-way-out-than/) [Georges Bataille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bataille/) > [During the period of house arrest, I had an electronic manacle around my leg for 24 hours a day, and for someone who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/during-the-period-of-house-arrest-i-had-an-electronic-manacle-around/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/the-want-of-a-thing-is-perplexing-enough-but-the-possession-of-it-is/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [The public figure of the writer, the writer-character, the 'personality-cult' of the author, are all becoming for me more and more intolerable in others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-public-figure-of-the-writer-the-writer-character-the-personality/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [May even the concept of unreached peoples be totally intolerable to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/may-even-the-concept-of-unreached-peoples-be-totally-intolerable-to-us/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) ## More by Margo MacDonald > [I fully respect people whose personal religious or moral code has God giving, and taking, life. But there are moral and responsible people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-fully-respect-people-whose-personal-religious-or-moral-code-has-god/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [You can have a very bad end with Parkinson's, but on the other hand, you can be like me, because I'm lucky. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/you-can-have-a-very-bad-end-with-parkinson-s-but-on-the-other-hand/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [I believe in the teachings of Christ. I think that's a good way to set your moral compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-believe-in-the-teachings-of-christ-i-think-that-s-a-good-way-to-set/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [If you have to rely on yourself, you try harder, and when you try harder, you feel bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/if-you-have-to-rely-on-yourself-you-try-harder-and-when-you-try/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [When I am in the Scottish Parliament chamber, I often feel the need to sit for the entire debate. It's only courteous to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/when-i-am-in-the-scottish-parliament-chamber-i-often-feel-the-need-to/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [Some people may get in to the building without the proper passes and things, but I think that's the price you pay for being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/some-people-may-get-in-to-the-building-without-the-proper-passes-and/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) > [Women are the sustaining force of any society - they think of the children and the next generation's chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/women-are-the-sustaining-force-of-any-society-they-think-of-the/) [Margo MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) [Explore all 8 Margo MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/) ## More Absolutely quotes > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) > [I was brought up by the English side of my family, who are very repressed and working class. Absolutely lovely, but very English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-was-brought-up-by-the-english-side-of-my-family-who-are-very/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [“None is absolutely true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-z-lavine/none-is-absolutely-true/) [T.Z. Lavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-z-lavine/) > [The game business arose from computer programs that were written by and for young men in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-laurel/the-game-business-arose-from-computer-programs-that-were-written-by/) [Brenda Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-laurel/) > [If I was a man, I would be a drag queen. Honestly, I would. I absolutely love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/if-i-was-a-man-i-would-be-a-drag-queen-honestly-i-would-i-absolutely/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [I'm absolutely an Elizabeth Taylor fan!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-absolutely-an-elizabeth-taylor-fan/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [You can absolutely be what you can't see! That's what innovators and disruptors do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-bryant/you-can-absolutely-be-what-you-can-t-see-that-s-what-innovators-and/) [Kimberly Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-bryant/) > [There were a lot of clubs interested in me - a lot, really. But Manchester United appeared and didn't go away. They absolutely wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/there-were-a-lot-of-clubs-interested-in-me-a-lot-really-but/) [Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/) > [People look at the same passage, and one person will say this is the best thing he's ever read, and another person will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/people-look-at-the-same-passage-and-one-person-will-say-this-is-the/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I absolutely love 'TOWIE.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-collins/i-absolutely-love-towie/) [Gemma Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-collins/) > [Chucky is absolutely still a puppet. He will remain to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-dourif/chucky-is-absolutely-still-a-puppet-he-will-remain-to-be/) [Fiona Dourif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-dourif/) Browse all 1,136 Absolutely quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know that there are people who believe that if they get to the stage where life is absolutely intolerable because of pain and indignity... they would like to end their life before nature intended, and we think they should have the choice to do so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margo MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe-that-if-they-get-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolutely" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe-that-if-they-get-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/margo-macdonald-46325_absolutely_i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe_803462.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know that there are people who believe that if they get to the stage where life is absolutely intolerable…” — Margo MacDonald", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Margo MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know that there are people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe-that-if-they-get-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-macdonald/i-know-that-there-are-people-who-believe-that-if-they-get-to-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```